The Wicomico County Board of Education has named officers for the new fiscal year, reelecting veteran member Don Fitzgerald as president and electing Joseph Ollinger as vice president.

The seven-member school board took a 4-3 vote for both offices at the Tuesday, July 12 annual reorganization meeting that launches the fiscal year. The vote came before former board member L. Michelle Wright, speaking during a board meeting public comments session, chided what she called a politically driven decision to not retain board vice president Kim Hudson for a five-year term.

"She was not supported for political reasons," Wright said, adding that Hudson favored a reappointment.

Fitzgerald, meanwhile, called his past year as president "a humbling experience."

In this July 12, 2016 photo, Wicomico County Board of Education attorney Paul Wilber congratulates school board member Don Fitzgerald on his reelection as board president.(Photo: Deborah Gates)

"I've had eight years on the board," said Fitzgerald, who joined the school board in 2009, and was reappointed to a five-year term in 2014 by former Governor Martin O'Malley. He also was board vice president two years before becoming president in 2015.

The Vietnam-era veteran and retired E.I. DuPont mechanic was nominated Tuesday for president by member Tyrone Chase.

Palmer then nominated Ollinger for the board vice presidency, which Ollinger won by one vote over Chase, who was nominated by member Willey. Votes for Ollinger were from Malone, Palmer, Waller and himself. Chase won votes from Fitzgerald, Willey and himself.

Ollinger participated in the board meeting by telephone from San Diego, telling the audience before the vote that he was a critical thinker with experiences that include business management and leadership. He called for board leadership with "new ideas" to further the mission of grooming high achievers and building trust.

"The board needs to change and it needs to collaborate," said Ollinger, former owner of Data Services Inc., which he sold in 2004. "I ask you to join me in delivering that leadership."

Ollinger, appointed to the board in June 2015 by Governor Larry Hogan, is active in the Wicomico County Republican Club and involved in programs for community youth that include Kids of Honor, where he served on the board of directors, and the Splashbury Project for summer youth recreation, which he founded.